Dining Out Safely: What You Need to Know

Dining Out Safely: Our experts work behind the scenes with food suppliers across the globe. Here’s what you need to know.

Group of friends ordering food in a restaurant - Safeguard Your Food at Your Favorite Eateries | NSF

Dining out can be a luxury for some and a routine event for others.

These days, many restaurants are struggling to get some menu items into their kitchens. Food suppliers around the globe are stretched thin due to COVID-19, staffing shortages and other supply chain issues.

This may mean your go-to meals aren’t available, or their recipes may have been altered because of these shortages. But food safety is still the top priority. Our experts work behind the scenes with food suppliers around the world to help get food at your favorite eateries safely to your table or into your carry-out bag. Here’s how:

1

Super Supply Delivery

With challenges to our food supply chain, NSF works closely with suppliers, using Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standards to help ensure confidence in the delivery of safer food to consumers while improving food safety throughout the supply chain.
2

Food Busters

Restaurant evaluations include food safety and cooking standards, such as allergen management, sanitation, temperature controls, menu details and labeling, handwashing and staff training.
3

Inspector Kitchen Gadgets

The NSF mark has been around since 1944, and all commercial kitchen equipment that successfully undergoes rigorous evaluations and assessments will have it. This includes everything from the plates and flatware to the cookware, stoves and refrigerators.
4

“Do” Diligence

Despite these safeguards, you still need to do your own due diligence before dining out. Some eateries have their food inspection reports posted online, in the newspaper or right in their windows.